Benjamin Tilman- "Pitchfork Ben"

Occupation: U.S. Senator

Postion of Issue: I am an Anti- Imperialist and I am against the acquisition of the Philippines. I fear that the annexation of the Philippines may lead to an influx non- white immigrants in the United States.

My Reason for Interest: I believe that the annexation of the Filipino savages may injure and utlimately cause the destruction of the American civilization. These people are a burden to our manhood and our ideas of Liberty. They are not suited for our institutions and are not ready for Liberty. We should not force our civilization on those who do not want it. Instead we should take some of their territory and a harbor refuge, a naval base to protect them from great threats. Give them our list of demands that we may not only help them, but relieve ourselves of this burden we are about to taken on.

References:
Tilman, Benjamin. "Address to the U.S. Senate." National Humanities Center. 7 Feb. 1899. Web. 27 Mar. 2011.
http://nationalhumanitiescenter.org/pds/gilded/empire/text7/tillman.pdf.

"Art & History Home Benjamin R. Tillman: A Featured Biography." U.S. Senate. 22 July 1996. Web. 27 Mar. 2011.
http://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/generic/Featured_Bio_Tillman.htm.

Edwards, Rebecca. "Benjamin Tillman." 2000. Web. 27 Mar. 2011. http://projects.vassar.edu/1896/tillman.html.

Kantrowitz, Stephen. "Ben Tillman and the Reconstruction of White Supremacy, by Stephen Kantrowitz. Introduction." UNC Press. The University of North Carolina
Press, 2000. Web. 27 Mar. 2011. http://uncpress.unc.edu/browse/page/435.